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Take a first look at Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers

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Take a first look at Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers

By Silas Lesnick | Sep 27, 2018

It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood and Sony Pictures has a surprise for children of all ages. They have just posted a first look at two time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks as he appears in the upcoming film based on the life of Fred Rogers, “You Are My Friend”:

A TriStar Pictures and Big Beach production, “You Are My Friend” is based the life real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and award-winning journalist Tom Junod. The story, which is said not to be a standard biopic, follows Junod’s cynical journalist as he begrudgingly accepts an assignment to write a profile piece on the beloved television icon, soon finding his perspective on life transformed.

“The Americans” star Matthew Rhys is attacked to play Junod with Chris Cooper set to play Junod’s father. Marielle Heller, who recently directed “Diary of a Teenage Girl,” is helming from a Black List script by Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster.

“This is the perfect alchemy of talent coming together at the perfect time to remind us all of the transformative power of kindness and respect to heal and to unite,” said Hannah Minghella, President of TriStar Pictures, when Hanks’ casting was first announced earlier this year. “We are proud to partner with Marielle, Tom and everyone at Big Beach to bring this inspirational true story to audiences all over the world.”

“I’m thrilled to be making ‘You Are My Friend,'” adds Heller. “The script knocked me out with its message of kindness and its exploration of the human spirit. As a mother, I am so inspired by the teachings of Fred Rogers and as a human I am in awe of his life’s work. I can’t wait to bring his story to the public and be a part of such a thoughtful, smart group of people who are all coming together to make this film, which truly feels to me like an antidote to our very fractured culture.”

Look for “You Are My Friend” to hit theaters October 18, 2019.

Silas Lesnick is the Senior Editor of Moviebill. He has been covering entertainment news out of Los Angeles for more than a decade. You can reach him via e-mail or on Twitter.